Miles Bellmore

My grandson showed me Minesweeper about a week ago. Although I’m now 72, and it seems our generation is not a fan of these video games, this game did not fail to illustrate the true horrors of war, even though that may sound like a cliche. I was drafted in 1967 and after two years was sent into Vietnam. I fought in the Sau Valley during the Battle of Humburger Hill. I remember a buddy, cpl Mike Garcia in my company who asked for my watch before we shipped out so he could impress his girl before we left. Mike was blown to bits a few days after by an NVA mine. Somehow our guys behind the main line managed to identify the body. I was Mike’s best buddy in our company, so the coroners told me to take his personal affects. I found my watch on his scarred wrist. Was still ticking! It was a Black Shinola watch. I loved that watch.